Category: Big Races

Run over 3 miles 5 furlongs, and 22 stiff fences, the Irish Grand National has been a fixture of the Easter Monday programme at Fairyhouse Racecourse, in Co. Meath, northeastern Ireland, since the late nineteenth century. Worth €500,000 in prize money, Irish Grand National is the most valuable steeplechase run in Ireland and, being a handicap, might be expected to provide tasty bait for British trainers.

Historically, notable British-trained winners of the Irish Grand National include Rhyme ‘N’ Reason (1985), who won the Grand National at Aintree in 1988, and Desert Orchid (1990), who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1989. However, on the whole, British-trained winners of the Irish Grand National have been few and far between.

In fact, since Desert Orchid successfully conceded 26lb and upwards all ’round in 1990 just four horses trained on the opposite side of the Irish Sea have been successful. Desert Orchid was immediately followed by Omerta, trained by Martin Pipe, in 1991, while Jenny Pitman was successful with Mudahim in 1997.

More recently, Gloucestershire trainer Jonjo O’Neill has saddled two winners, both owned by John P. McManus. The first of them, Butler’s Cabin, was ridden to a one-length success by Sir Anthony McCoy in 2007, while the second, Shutthefrontdoor, won by a similar margin under Barry Geraghty in 2014. The following April, Shutthefrontdoor was sent off favourite for the Grand National at Aintree, but faded from the final fence to finish fifth, 13 lengths behind the eventual winner, Many Clouds.

There isn’t a bigger horse racing event in Australia than the annual Melbourne Cup; this is also known as the most famous Group 1 thoroughbred horse racing event in all of Melbourne.

 

Horses three years old and above race a staggering distance of 3200 meters, with thousands of people from all over Australia attending the event, not to mention the millions tuning in worldwide. That is probably why it’s known as “the race that stops the nation”.

 

The Melbourne Cup started in 1861 and has seen ever-increasing growth over the years, so much so that it has been a national public holiday.

 

Read on for information about the Melbourne Cup.

 When Is The Event?

The Melbourne Cup will take place at Flemington racecourse on the 1st of November 2022, with gates opening at 8:30 and the race starting at 15:00 local Australian time.

 

How To Get To The Event?

So you’ve secured your ticket for the Melbourne Cup, but now you want to know what will be the best way to get there.

 

Well, you’ve got enough options to choose from; you can take the tram at number 57 Maribyrnong that will take you directly to Flemington racecourse on Epsom road.

 

You can also take the train at Flinders Street and Southern Cross station, which will be able to take you directly to Flemington. Otherwise, you’ll have to take the 404 or the 472 route when you’re travelling by car or bus.

 

Melbourne Cup Ticket Information

 

Below you’ll find all the information regarding the various events you can attend at the Melbourne Carnival Cup Event.

 

Event	Adults	Concession	Family
Penfolds Victoria Deby Day	$83.00	$45.00	$146.00
Lexus Melbourne Cup Day	$89.00	$62.00	$158.00
Kennedy Oaks Day	$60.00	$31.00	$100.00
Paramount and Stakes Day	$64.00	$32.00	$108.00
Note: Children under 12 don’t have to pay admission.

 

How And Where Can I Place Bets?

Before explaining how and where to place your bets, remember that you must be 18 years or older to register and bet. The information given is not for advertising betting but rather for educational purposes.

 

So you have the option of visiting the Totalisator Agency Board betting shops, but if you want a less confusing way, you can do it via online booking. For more information regarding the event and horses, you can visit Neds for all the betting requirements you desire.

 

There is also the option of getting a bookie.

 

However, it’s recommended that only individuals with some experience in the horse racing world should get a bookie; before you do, make sure to do your homework, as many websites offer this service.

 

How Are The Entries Selected?

If you want to gain entry into the Melbourne Cup, there are numerous ways in which you can go about this. You can purchase one of the horses already nominated to enter the race by the owner.

 

Otherwise, as the owner, you can enter your horse into the ballot system with the hopes it will be one of the 24 horses selected for the race.

 

Before you decide to enter, there are two requirements everyone must follow to participate.

The first one is the horse must be at least three years old. And the other one is the handicap weight must not be less than 50kg or more than 57kg.

 

FAQS

Will I be able to watch the Melbourne Cup online?

 

Yes, you will be able to watch it on Channel 10 if you reside in Australia.

 

Where will I be able to watch it online outside Australia?

 

For those living overseas, you’ll also be able to enjoy the Melbourne Cup action. New Zealanders can stream the race on Racing.com and Sky Racing channels. Those residing in Ireland or the UK can watch it on Sky Racing.

 

What time does the event start outside of Australia?

 

For those in New Zealand, the event will kick off at 17:00, and for those in the UK, the event will start at 5:00 in the morning.

 

Conclusion

 

This event is truly a unique occasion when everyone in the country gets together and enjoys everything horseracing. Many people use this occasion to dress up, sip champagne, and wager on their favourite horses they believe will win.

 

It is also time to spend with family in wonderful weather. It doesn’t matter what you choose to focus on during this special day; one thing is for certain, it is a significant day for Australia and its history.

 

Given the value of a Classic-winning colt to global racing and breeding powerhouses, such as Coolmore and Godolphin, it should come as no real surprise that, in recent years, the second fillies’ Classic, the Oaks, has been increasingly overshadowed by the Derby. The fact that the Derby is worth £1,125,000 in guaranteed prize money, whereas the Oaks is worth just £375,000, is indicative of their current standings.

However, far from being an afterthought, the Oaks is, in fact, the older – albeit only slightly – of the Epsom Classics. The Oaks was founded, in its current guise, by Edward Smith-Stanley, Twelfth Earl of Derby, in 1779 and named after his residence in nearby Carshalton. Smith-Stanley won the inaugural running of the Oaks and, during the subsequent celebration, he and Charles Bunbury, Chairman of the Jockey Club, came up with the idea for a similar race, open to colts and fillies, which they co-founded, as the Derby, in 1780. Until 1784, the Derby was run over the ‘last mile of the course’, before being extended to a mile and a half. It is worth noting that neither the Oaks nor the Derby were dubbed ‘Classics’ until shortly after the inaugural running of the 1,000 Guineas in 1814.

The race formerly known as the Massey Ferguson Gold Cup is a Grade Three handicap steeplechase run over 2 miles 4½ furlongs on the New Course at Cheltenham. Established in 1963, the race has had various sponsors, and various titles, since the agricultural machinery manufacturer relinquished sponsorship in 1980, but its positioning in the National Hunt calendar has led to it becoming known, commonly, as the December Gold Cup. The most recent sponsor is gourmet food supplier Caspian Caviar, such that, since 2014, the race has been run as the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup.

In the initial sponsorship period, notable winners of the Massey Ferguson Gold Cup included Flyingbolt, in 1965, and Pendil, in 1973. More recently, in 2006, Exotic Dancer won the Boylesports.com Gold Cup, as the race was known at the time, en route to finishing second to his ‘nemesis’ Kauto Star in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.